Janelle Monáe covers David Bowie's 'Heroes'

Janelle Monáe has recorded a cover of David Bowie's signature song "Heroes."

The 28-year-old singer's performance of the song will air in Pepsi's "Now Is What You Make it" ad campaign. The advert is part of the company's global football campaign in anticipation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

When asked by Rolling Stone if she was nervous to do the cover, Monáe responds, "Hellll no."

"Bowie knows what's up," Monáe elaborates. "He's a fan and I'm a fan of him. The respect is mutual... I just hope that we made him proud."

"'Heroes' is one of my favorite Bowie songs. When you love your favorite song, you want to keep some of the beautiful qualities of the original," Monáe says of the changes she and her team made to the song. "But we brought Atlanta in the drums and want them to be thick and hit hard."

"It's very hopeful," the singer says of the song. "The way the world is today, you can never write enough inspiring or motivating songs... Those lyrics spoke to me as someone who is for the people. I try to inspire and lead by example and be the change that I want to see."

Monáe also filmed a video in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the 2014 World Cup will take place, to accompany her cover of "Heroes." The film features a number of global soccer stars, and will air alongside the song during the event.

The 2014 World Cup kicks off in Rio on Thursday, June 12.

[Rolling Stone]